The inaugural season of the Junior Basketball Association, LaVar Ball's league for top high school prospects, is now in the books. And you won't have a hard time guessing which team won the title and which player won the MVP award.
The league champs? The Los Angeles Ballers, featuring LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball, who led the league in scoring, respectively. Their team won 132-121 over Seattle.
And LiAngelo, who dropped 58 points, won league MVP.Ā
2018 JBA League Champions, Los Angeles Ballers. š Ā #NewBallEra #JBAPlayoffs #JBAChampionship pic.twitter.com/jmFGElz5g9
LaMelo also put up a big stat lineā34 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists...and 11 turnovers. The winning players received Cadillacs as a reward.
One more quarter remaining until the winners receive 2018 Cadillacs!! #JBA #BBB #Newballera pic.twitter.com/PMx4Go7cCJ
2018 JBA Champions first moments with their 2018 Cadillac ATS Sedans! #JBA #JBAPlayoffs #NewBallEra pic.twitter.com/IKYbVCU1Hb
The league debuted on draft day in June to meager attendance. After LiAngelo tested the NBA Draft waters and wasn't selected (or invited to join a Summer League roster), he announced that he'd be joining his little brother in the JBA. He quickly emerged as the league's top player, with LaMelo close behind.
LiAngelo was expected to compete in the NCAA last season, but he withdrew from UCLA after a shoplifting saga in China. His brother left his high school team behind, and both players went pro in Lithuania. At this point, it's hard to imagine either will end up joining their brother, Lonzo, in the NBA.